y&sthis month's

• •organizingmakeover

(page 101)

14 secretsto healthy

aging

HOW TOCLEAN

ANYOUTDOOR

SURFACE

VACATIONTIPPING

101

scrumptioussummer

recipes to try~ tonight

te meals

.'

I LIFE MADE EASIER I

dig in.linguine with summer

vegetablesand goat cheese

(page 189)

~5.99CAN

le.com

REALSIMPLE, {),'best

O-mi

~ the guide I BEAUTY

Ifyou're like most women, you spend a fair amount oftime taking care of the skin on your face while prettymuch ignoring your neck and chest. But these regionsare especially quick to show age, for different physical

and environmental reasons. Fortunately "it's never too lateto fightthe effects ofaging," says Mary Lupo, a derma­tologist in New Orleans. Just follow this regimen, then putthose turtlenecks back in the drawer.

why do your neck andchest look 50 old, 50 fast?''The lack ofoil glands on yourneck can cause dryness, whichmay accelerate the aging processand make your neck appearmore weathered," says FredricBrandt, a dermatologist withpractices in New York and Florida.Neck skin also has a tendencytoward laxity. Couple that with allthe twisting and turning that youdo daily and you have a recipefor "crepey texture"-the lovelyphrase used to describe skin thatis both finely lined and saggy.Plus, contraction of the platysmamuscle (which runs roughly fromunderneath the chin to the ster­num) can cause the vertical cordsof the neck to look more promi­nent, says New York City plasticsurgeon Adam R. Kolker. Thechest, or decolletage, is typicallyhardier, but it may take more ofa beating from the 5un, sinceyour neck is often shaded by yourchin, your hair, or a hat.

dally maintenanceThe most important product toapply to your neck and chestis good old sunscreen-better yet,a broad-spectrum moisturizerwith an SPF of 30 or higher. Thiswill help combat dryness andsun damage. If you already havesome discoloration due to sun

96 AUGUST 2013 I REALSIMPLE.COM

damage or sagginess on your neckand chest, Jeanine Downie, adermatologist in Montclair, NewJersey, recommends extendingany facial anti·agers you useto these spots. "Most people takethe words 'face cream' too liter­ally," she says. "Anything for theface is generally fine for the restof the body." Look for creamswith retinol or plant extracts, tohelp firm, and lightening agents,such as kojic acid, to even outskin color. The exception to therule: people with sensitive neckskin that blotches easily (if you fallinto this category, you probablyknow it by now). This group mayconsider a neck-specific product."Neck creams tend to have gen­tler active ingredients and beslightly richer than face creams;'says Brandt.

intensive careIf your neck and chest are lookingvery weathered, an in-officeexfoliating treatment may help,says Jordana Mattioli, a licensedmedical aesthetician in NewYork City. One high-tech resurfac­ing option for the neck and chestis microdermabrasion ($150 andup per session; you may needseveral to see results), which usesa device to painlessly help "sand­blast" away discoloration withfine mineral crystals. Another is achemical peel (about $150 forone; you may require more),which can employ trichloroacetic,azelaic, or kojic acid to lessen

spots and improve firmness.Peels are more often usedon the chest than on the neck,since the chest can take themore aggressive treatment.

Light therapy and lasers are astep up in intensity from exfo­liation and can offer enhancedanti-aging benefits for the neckand chest. Over the course ofseveral sessions ($300 to $500each), IPL, or intense pulsed light,treats uneven pigmentation andthe visible or broken vesselscaused by sun exposure. Downielikes the Fraxellaser ($1 ,000to $1,500 asession), especially foranyone age 40 or older. Typicallyyou need more IPL treatmentsto see the same results you wouldfrom Fraxel, "so in the longrun Fraxel can be a money- andtime-saver," says Downie. Butplan on a long weekend to recoverfrom the redness, which isfollowed by a week of flaking skin.As for treating the "wattle," aBotox injection ($300 to $SOO)can soften the ropey look byweakening the muscle movementthat can lead to a saggy neck.However, if you have seriouswiggle under your chin, "surgeryis probably your best option," saysKolker. Some surgeons do per­form neck-lifts ($4,000 and up),but the procedure is more oftendone as part of a face-lift ($7,000to $9,000)

skin and tonicsThere's an anti-aging skin-careregimen that's just right for you.Find it at realsimple.comlantiaging.

SELF-HELPThese potent anti­aging productscontain exfoliantsJ

plant extracts, orantioxidants toimprove firmness ordiscoloration onthe neck and chest.

Prevage Anti­Aging + IntensiveRepair DallySerum. $225,elizabetharden.com.

Clarlns Extra­Firming NeckCream, $85, darins.com (availablemid-August).

La Prairie Anti­Aging Neck Cream,$225,laprairie.com.

Dr. Brandt TimeArrest V-Zone NeckCream, $60, drbrandtskincare.com.